Time-switch mechanism.



J. A. SKINNER.

TIME SWITCH MECHANISM.

APPLIGATION IILBD 11017.21, 1912.

Patentd Aug. 11, 1914 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR 2 5:32 1? A 1 M44 ATTORNEYS J. A. SKINNER.

TIME SWITCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1912 1,106,416, v Patented Aug 11, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR 6 flames .5 1- er; w 5 5 41) ATTORNEYS J.- A. SKINNER.

TIME SWITCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION IILBD N0V.21,1912. 1,106,411 6 Patented Aug.11,1914.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

INVENTOR 1 1' ATTORNEYS Tr; who.

JAMES A. SKINNER, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB 'llQ FRITZ FREDERICK UEHLING, 0F PASSAIC, NEW JERSEY.

TIME-SWITCH MECHANISM To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. SKINNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, in the. county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Time Switch Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the following to be'a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which itwhereby an elec ric switch may be closed to deliver an operating current of electricity to a. motor, or other electrical device, and after a determinate interval open such switch to again break said operating current.

A further object of the present invention is to provide in connection with the switch operating mechanism a coin actuated trip mechanism for controlling said switch operating mechanism. 1

Other objects of the present invention not at this time more particularly enumerated will be clearly understood for the following detailed descripticn of this invention.

With the various objects of the present invention inview, the said invention consists, primarily, in the novel time switch mechanism hereinafter set forth; and, the invention consists, furthermore, in the novel arrangements and combinations pf the several devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the same, allot which will be'more fully described in detail in the following specification, and then finally embodiedin the clauses of the'claim which are appended to and which form an essential part of the said specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which 2- Figure l is a side elevation of the novel time switch mechanism made according to and embodying the principles of the present invention; Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section of the same taken on line 22 in said Fig. l

ation of said time Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 111, 1914i Application filed Ifi'ovcmbc'r 21, 1912. Serial No. 7352,6419

looking downward; and Fig. 3 is a detail cross-section taken on line 3-3 in said Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow as, and adapted to clearly illustrate the coin actuated trip mechanism of said time-switch. Fig. i is a detail side elevation of the time switch mechanism after a coin has actuated the trip mechanism to operate the timeswitch mechanism to close the switch, the portion of said trip mechanism which receives the contact of the coin being broken away. Fig. 5 is another detail side elevation adapted to illustrate the stages of operswitch mechanism in resetting the same, and in returning the switch element to its normally open position.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the above described views to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the said drawings the referencocharacter 1 indicates any suitable frame-work upon which the novel time switch mechanism and anelectric motor or other device may b mounted. Said framework 1 is provided with downwardly inclined supporting portions 2 upon which may be supported the base 3 of a switchelement, said base 3 being preferably made of some suitable insulating material or nonconductor of electricity. Suitably disposed upon the surface of said base 3 are a pair of fulcrum or hinge pieces 4 to which are pivotal-1y connected the forwardly extending switch-blades 5. Said fulcrum or hinge pieces 4 are provided with fastening lugs 6 which, together with holding screws 7 serve to secure said hinge-pieces to said base 3 and also to receive the electrical connection of the circuit wires 8 and 8 of an electric motor 9, or other device desired to be operated by the electric feedcurrent controlled by said switch element. The forward ends of said switch blades 5 are connected together mechan'icajlly by means ofconnect-ing-block 10 made of some insulating or non-conducting material. Connected with and extending forwardly from said connecting-block 10 is a nosing 11. Suitably disposed respectively beneath the forward end-portions of said switch-blades 5, and upon said base 3, are the forked switch-blade receiving contactelements 12, the same also being provided with fastening lugs 13 which, together with holding screws 14, serve to secure said contact-elements upon said base 3and also to .i8gl1di also serves to move said switch-blades receive the electrical connection of feedwires 15 and 15.

Pivotally connected with each switchblade 5 is a quick-break or non-arcing con tact-member 16, the same being U-shaped in cross-section so as to straddle the lower marginal edge of said switch-blades 5. Connected with the forward end of said contactmembers 16 are post-members 17 the same being perforated at their free ends to receive the connection therewith of a coil-spring 18, the opposite end of which is anchored in a suitable manner to some convenient point of said connectingblock 10. hen said switch-blades 5 move downwardly they carry said contact-members 16, while in closed relation therewith, into contact with said switch-blade receiving contact-elements 12. When, however, said switch-blades 5 are moved upwardly to break the feed circuit, said contact-members 16 are held by their frictional engagement with said contact-elements 12 while said switch-blades. 5 move, the same swinging or pivoting attheir ,pivoted ends, such movement resulting in the stretching or placing under tension the said connecting coil-springs 18. When said coil-springs 18 are stretched to such a tension as will overcome the frictional grip of said contact-elements 12, the said contact members 16 are suddenly snapped back to their normal initial relation to said switch-blades, thus causing a quick breaking of the electric feed circuit which obviates arcing and kindred evils as the switch is turned oif.

Said electric motor 9 is secured, preferably, to the upwardly extending arms 19 of said frame-work 1, so as to be located above said switch element. Connected with the armature shaft 2O of'said motor is a driving-pulley 21. Secured upon the forward portion of said frame-Work 1, beneath said switch-base 3, is a bracket-member 22 from one end of which extends a forwardly projecting bracket-arm 23. Connected adjacent to the free end of said bracket-arm 23 is a pivot-stud 24. Pivotally mounted upon said pivot-stud 24 is an oscillatable guide-member 25, the same possessing an upwardly extending arm 26 at the free end of which is provided a guidapiece 27 having therein a cutaway portion or opening 28. Extending rearwardly from sa'd guide-member 25, that is toward the frame-work 1, is a triggerrm 29 which is provided adjacent to its free end with a perforated ear or lug 30.

Hooked into said perforated ear or lug 30 is one end of a coil-spring 31, the opposite end of which is connected with said nosing 11 secured to the connecting-block 10 of sai switch-blades 5. Said coil-spring 31 serves "to'oscillate said guide-member 25 in one direction when its trigger-arm 29 is released,

and their contact-members into circuit closing position when the same are released.

Extending outwardly from said bracketmember 22, in a proper location, is another pivot-stud 32 upon which is pivotally mounted a trip-catch lever 33, the same having a tripcatch 34-which extends normally transversely across the end of saidtriggerarm 29 of said guide-member 25 so as to normally hold the latter against oscillation as produced or initiated by saidcoil-spring 31. One endof trip-catch lever 33 is provided with a coin-plate 35 which extends normally beneath the bottom'of a suitably disposed coin-chute 36, and preferably at a downwardly inclined angle. When a coin, as 37, passes through the said coin-chute 36 it drops upon said coin-plate 35 andconsequently tips down said trip-catch lever 33 thereby relieving said trip-catch 34 from its engagement with said trigger-arm 29 thus permitting said coil-spring 31 to actuate said guide-member25 for the purposes to be subsequently described. When said triggerarm 29 is returned to its normally initial position said trip-catch lever 33 is oscillated in the opposite direction by its weighted opposite end 38 which overbalauces said coin.- plate 35 from which-in the meantime said coin 37 has fallen, and such opposite oscillation again carries said trip-catch 34 into holding relation with said trigger-arm 29 and said coin-plate 35 in normal relation to the.bottom of said coin-chute 36.

N Connected with one side of said framework 1 isa bearing-frame 39, and extendin'g transversely of said bearing-frame 39 is a shaft 40, one end of the same being journaled in said bearing-frame and the other end in said frame-work 1. Secured upon said shaft 40 is a pulley 41 which is driven by a belt 42 running over the said drivingulley 21 connected with. the armature shaft of said motor 9. Secured upon said shaft 40 is a worm-member 43, said worm-member meshes operatively with a worm-gear 44 se cured upon'a longitudinal shaft 45 which is journaled in-said bearing-frame 39. Also secured. upon one end of said longitudinal shaft 45 is another worm member 46. Gonnected with said bearing-frame 39 is a bearing-lug 47 and also connected with said bracket-arm 23 is another bearing-lug 48 which is in alinement with said bearing lug 47 so as to support a short shaft 49 Secured upon one end of said short-shaft 49 is a worm-gear 50 which meshes operatively 1,1 oaaie opening 28 of the guide-piece 27 of said guide-member 25 so as-to possess a sliding lug 54, the same beinglocated at a proper,

distancebelow the free or upper end 53 of said lift lever so as to normally engagesaid nosing 11 of said switch elementto hold or support the same in its open position. Also connected with said lift-lever 52 and extending in an opposite direction therefrom is an inclined cam-projection 55, the same being so located that at proper times in the movement of said lift-lever as actuated by said crank-member 51 said cam=projection 55 will contact with the freeend of said pivot-stud 24'for the plirposes to. be subsequently described.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings the apparatusis illustrated in its normal position i with the switch-element open to interrupt or break the electrical feed circuit by means of which the motor is operated. hen in such position the said supporting-lug 54 of the lift-lever 52 is in engagement with the nosing 11 of said switch element thereby holding the said switch-element in said open position against the tension of said coil-spring 31. Said lift-lever 52 is maintained in this normal initial position by the said guide-member 25 which, itselfbeing maintained in normal position by said trip-catch lever 33 and its parts holds the saidrlift-lever against outwar movement which would withdraw said supporting lug 54. When said trip-catch lever 33 is operated by a falling coin, or by any other means, (it being understood that when the device is desired to be operated manually or by other .mechanical means said coinchute36 may be eliminated,) said trip-catch 34 is removed from its holding relation with the trigger-arm 29 of said guide member 25,

thus permitting said coil-spring 31 to oscillate said guide-member 25upon 'said pivot- V stud 24, which: operation swings awaj the upper end of said lift-lever 52, and withdraws said supporting-1n 54 from beneath saidj nosing ll so that t etension of said coil-spring 31 can pull said switch-blades 5 and parts into circuit closing electrical contact with the contact-elements 12, the parts thusmovin trated in: Fig. 4 0%. circuit connecting; "the motor 9 withthe source ,ofelectrical energy being thus closed theinotor 9 is started. Thev revolution of the motor shaft being transmitted; through the transmissionfmechanism above described .in detailcauses "the" rotation of said shortshaft 49 and. consequently said crank-mem-' her. 51. @Ihef rotation of said crank-member 51 transinit's'at firsta downward movement to said lift-lever 52,'the same moving downinto the positions illusthe drawings. Thefe'ed wardly until the cam-projection 55 contacts with the end of said pivot'stud 24. The downward movement of said lift-lever continuing draws the inclinedsurface of said cam-projection 55 along said stationary pivot stud 24 which results in swinging inwardly upon its pivotal connection with said crank-member 51 said lift-lever 52, thi

swinging movement or oscillation bein transmitted through its connection with said guide-member 25 to the latter, thus causing a return oscillation of the same and the trigger-arm 29 connected therewith which moves the latter back to normal initial position so that said trip-catch 34 may again swing into holding engagement therewith,

all of which is illustrated by the solid lines of Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings. The guide-member 25 being thus reset to its normal initial-position the continued rotation of said crank-member 51 begins to carry the said lift-lever 52 inward and upward thereby-moving said supportinglug 54 beneath said nosing not the switch-element, as the same is ositioned when the switchelement is closet, this movement or position being indicated by the dotted representation of said lift-lever-52 shown in Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings. The completion of the revolution of said crank member 51 lifts said switch-blades 5 backto their normal initial position, at which point the contact-members10 snap back to their normal relation toltsaid switch-blades, as above described, thus interruptingthe feed circuit and consequently stopping the motor. Of course it will'be understood that a considerable interval of time elapses during the performance of the above described operations, during which time the power of the motor may be utilized to operate any device requiring motive, power,- for example various types of vending machinery, shoe-cleaning machinery, display devices, moving-picture displays, or mechanicaladvertising devices. It will also be evident that said transmissionmechanism which operates between the motor and the switch-controlling mechanism,

may be varied both as to fthe timing of its, resultantmovement and as to its mechanical make -upor design without departing from the scope, of the present invention, consequently I do not limit myselfto the details of thejtransmiss'ionshown in the drawings, which mustv be considered as illustrative merely of one ofmany arrangem ents.

I am aware that changes may also be made in the general arrangementsandcombinations oi, thedevices and parts of my I present'inv'ention, as well as in the details of the constructionof thesame, ,as described in the accompanying specification without departing from therscope. of my present invention as defined in the claims which are appended tosaid specification. Hence, Ido

not limit my invention to the exact arrange-i tion, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts as illustrated in'the accompanying drawings.

I claim 1. In a device of the kind described, the combination with, a knife switch-element adapted to control an electrical feed circuit of switch-operating mechanism comprising a lift-lever, a guide member for supporting said lift-lever, a crank-member for operat ing said lift-lever, means for automatically moving said guide-member to carry said lift-lever into and out of the path of the movable member of said knife switch-element, and means for rotating said crankmember to actuate the lifting movement of said lift-lever.

2. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a switch-element provided with a pivoted switch-member of switch closing and opening mechanism comprising,

i a pivoted guide-member provided with a trigger-arm, a coil-spring connected between said trigger-arm and said pivoted switchmember, a lift-lever movably related to said guide-member having means for engaging said pivoted switch-member, a'crank-member for actuating said lift-lever, means for rotating said crank-member, and a releasable means engaging said trigger-arm of said guide-member to hold the latter in position to guide said lift-lever in the path of movement of said pivoted switch-member.

3. In a device of the kind described, the combination with an electric motor of a switch-elementadapted to. control an electrical feed circuit for said motor, said switch element having a pivoted switch-member, means for closing and opening said pivoted switch-member comprising, a pivoted guidemember provided with a trigger-arm, a coil spring connected between said trigger-arm and said pivoted switch-member, a lift-lever, a rotatable crank-member connected with the lower end of said lift-lever, the upper end of said lift lever being movably related to said guide-member, said lift-lever having means for engaging said pivoted switchmember, a transmission means driven by said motor and connected with said crankmember, said guide-member being. adapted to swing said lift-leverout of and into the path of movement of said pivoted switchmember, and arelea'sable means adapted to hold said guide-member in normal'position to retain said lift-lever in the path of move-c ment of said pivoted switch-member.

4. In a device of the kind described, the combination'with' an electric motor of a switch-element adapted to control an elec trical feed circuit for said motor, said switch element having a pivoted switch-member,

switch-member, a releasable means engaging said trigger-arm for holding said guidemember in normal position, and means for returning said guide-members to normal position after being released from said holding means. v

5. In a device of the kind described, the combination with an electric motor of a switch clement adapted to control an electrical feed circuit for said motor, said switch element having a pivoted switch-membcr, means for closing and opening said pivoted switch-member comprising, a lift-lever adapted to be carried in and out of engagement with said pivoted switch-member, a guide-member with which said lift lever is movably related for guiding said liftlev'er during its movements, and means driven by said'motor for actuating said lift-lever. a

-6. In a device of the kinddescribed, the combination with an electric motor of a switch-element adapted to control an electric feed circuit for said motor, said switch, element having a pivoted switch-memben'a coil-spring for actuating the closingmovement of said pivoted switch-member, a liftlever adapted to engage said pivoted switchmember to actuate the opening movement of the'same, a guide-member with which said lift-lever is movably related for" guiding said lift-lever during its movements, said guide-member being movable to carry said lift-lever away from, contact v with said pivoted switch-member, means; for returning saidvguidemember to normal initial position, releasable meanslfor holding said guide-member in normal position, and means driven by said motor for'actuating said lift-lever.

, i 7. In adevice of the kind lthe-l combination with an electricl'motor' of a; switch element adapted tov control an elect-ric'al feed circuit for said motor, saidsw-itch element having a pivotedv switch-member, a fl coihspring for actuating the, closing movement of said pivotedswitchanember, a lift lever adapted to engage said pivoted switch member to actuate the openmgmovement of the same, a guide-member with which said lift-lever is movable related forgi'iiding said lift-lever during its movements, said vguidemember being movable to carry said liftlever away from contact withsaid pivoted switch-member, means for returning said guide member to normal initial position, re-

leasahle means for holding said guide-member innormal position, and means driven by' said motor for actuating said lift-lever, comprising a rotatable crank-member with which the lower end of said lift-lever is connected, and transmission mechanism between said motor and said crank-member.

8. In a device of the kind described, the

combination with an electric motor of a switch element adapted to control an electrical feed circuit, said switch element having a pivoted switch member, a coil-spring, for actuating the closing movement of said pivoted switch-member, a lift-lever adapted to engage said pivoted switch-member to actuate the openingmovement ofthe same, apivoted guide me'inber with. which said lift lever is related,m'eans for oscillating said gu de-member men-e direction te m-r3 saidl'iftlever'out of engagement with said pivoted switch-member to permit the latter: to be c osed; means for osc'i lla ting said guide-member in the other direction to r'-- turn the same to normal position to c r-w said lift lever into thepa-th of movement of; releasable mea.ns .vfoi' holding "said an e-mfember in h a frame-work said pivoted switch me'znber,

thereby, a switch element for controlling the electrical feed circuit for said motor supported by said frame-work, said switchelement having a p'ivoted switch-member provided with a nosing, a bracket-member provided with a forwardly extending bracket-arm mounted on said frame-work, a pivotstudconnected with said bracket-arm, a guide-member having an upwardly extending guide-arm provided with aguidepiece, said guide-member being pivotally mounted on said pivot-stud, a. triggerrarm extending rearwardly from said guide-memher, a vcoilspring connected between said trigger-arm and said pivoted switch-member, a lift-lever, the upper end of said liftlever being movably' related to said guidelift-lever and adapted. to engage said nosing of said pivoted switch-member, a crankmember rotatably mounted in connection with bracket-arm, said. lift-leverjbeing pivotally. connectedby itsfllower end to said crank-member, a transmission mechanism driven by said motor and connected in drivlighting to sa =l k*mlllh 193m- ,pgoj'efiibii connected with" said lift lever a v.

aptedjtb be carried in sliding en'ga emer1c with aid pivot s'tud whereby the moving lift-lever causes anoscillation of said guidemember, and a releasa'bleineans engagin said trigger-ar for holding said guide fe' 'nberin normal position.

11. int device of thelkind described, a V an electric {motor piece, a supporting lug extending fromsaid member in normal position comprising a trip-catch lever pivotally connected with said bracket-member, a trip-catch connected with said trip-catch lever normally engaging the free end of said trigger-arm, and means for returnin said trip-catch lever to normal position a ter the same has been operated. V

12. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a switch element provided with a pivoted switch-member, of a switchclosing and opening mechanism comprising a movable spring-actuated guide-member, a lift-lever slidably engagin said guide-.mem her and having means or engaging said switch-member, a crank for operating said.

set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of October, 1912.

lift-lever, spring means connected with said switch-member and said guide member hop crating upon the swi t'ch memlierto closethe switch, andnpon the, gu1de member to move the lift-lever out of y the path said switch member.

13. The combination with a switch comprising a contact member, and a movable switclrmember adapted to be moved, into and ont of engagement with said contacttent'normally holding said leverin engagement with said switch-member, whereby when said detent is operated toreleasesaid lever saidswitch will close, and, means for automatically opening said 'switchjand restoring said lever and normal positions. 1 I

In testimony, that I claim the invention V JAMES A. SKINNER. Witnesses I H ROLD D LT oMAS, j

v detent to their a 

